Monday, August 30, 2010

In Australia the design must have in your bathroom is frameless glass shower screens, in particular single-fixed partition. Sleek yes, easy to clean yes, I was/am going to do this... undecided!

You may remember my bathroom is on the small, actually tiny side is more accurate and I was thinking the glass just might be too restrictive.

And then I saw this and thought it was just so cute and would suit my little place.

Can't find anywhere is Australia {probably because they are very "un Australian"}, thank god both Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters ship here! I know they're not everyone's taste but you know what - I don't really care! That's what design is all about isn't it, have what you like...

Sunday, August 29, 2010

I've long loved the work of photographer Ben Watts. Ben, the brother of Naomi Watts was born in the UK, raised in Australia and now lives in NYC. He is a great fashion photographer, celebrity photographer - just overall great photographer!

Here's a look at his beachside summer house in Montauk, upper New York State's Hamptons where he spends his downtime with his partner, Jeananne Williams and their baby daughter Ruby.

Here's one of my fav pieces of his work of the late beautiful Heath Ledger.

Ben's house is defintitely a comfortable place to just hang out in with friends.
What do you think?

This is what I call my "patient piece"... one day I will own a velvet sofa. I'm not there yet, it has be perfect for the space I'm in. I love a velevt sofa, I don't quite know why - the feel, the look.

Friday, August 27, 2010

I can't do a series on blogger homes and not include the home of ever lovely Nicole at Sketch42. I love what Nicole has done to her New York apartment, she has such an amazing eye. Not to mention the fab pieces of furniture she seems to just find and to top it all off, she is one very talented artist. Pop over to Nicole's Etsy store where you can view and purchase her pieces.

Nicole's home has been featured on many a blog but I am super privileged to reveal some new images for this post that Nicole has just taken of her lovely abode.

What is your occupation?Blogger Extraordinaire

How do you summarise your style?Hmmm... I think I definitely gravitate toward glamour, but I love rooms that walk the line between feminine and masculine. I love a room with a little edge to it. Something a little raw that keeps the room interesting and not so one note. I am still looking for some of those unexpected pieces for my own living room.

Where did your passion for interiors come from?I grew up with a very close relationship to my grandmother. She has an amazing house that you can see here. She took me to Europe for weeks at a time as a child, the opera, museums every weekend and taught me to paint. We are still really close and go shopping and antiquing together all the time!

A piece of Nicole's fab art

Where do you find your inspiration?Definitely the blogs. I love reading about design on blogs because it's a conversation. It's not a one way gush fest from some editor to the reader. In terms of design inspiration. . . Kelly Wearstler, Miles Redd, Mary McDonald and Windor Smith are some of my favorites. All of their rooms are edgy, glam, gorgeous and unique.

So much to love here - the sofa, the cushions, coffee table, rug...

What was the best and worst thing about renovating your own place?At first, I was all over the place. I like every style and every period. I was all over the place that I would constantly poll my friends on wallpapers, paint, fabric swatches and more. They all hated me. So I started the blog so that I could find people from around the world who share my passion! So the best part about designing my own place is that it lead me to create my own blog. The worst is now that it's done I want to completely redo it! I love the freedom of experimenting in my own space and now that it's almost done... well, I'm getting bored!

What is your most treasured piece of furniture that you have ever bought, been given or found and why?All of the most interesting things in the house are restored antiques. The console under the TV is from the antique dealer Mad4Milo.com. I went to his warehouse in Florida this year... It was AMAZING. The chair to the left of the console - lovingly dubbed the Ebay Chair. I bought it on ebay and the seller shipped it Greyhound to Penn Statio. Getting it home from Penn Station s nothing short of an adventure. I also have another chair and ottoman by Drexel Heritage that I found on Third Avenue. What a score indeed! So in general, my favorite things in the house are the things that didn't come from stores.

Everything works so well together

More great art and the famous ebay chair

What's your favourite room in the house and why?It's actually the least popular in the blogosphere, probably because I never took great pictures of it and because junk collects in there, but the den is my favorite room to hang out in. I watch a TON of TV and this room is cosy, it's perfect for blogging while Real Housewives watching. That said, I love all the rooms in my house. I smile when I walk in the door. My kitchen makes me really, really happy... In my first apartment, I had a kitchen smaller than a closet. It was SO HARD to do anything in there, that I knew I needed a big kitchen with a big fridge and two ovens if I wanted to throw fun dinner parties and raise a family here.

*sigh*

What makes a house a home?When I moved into this apartment, it was a construction site. I had no furniture and plastic coverings on all the doorways. Oh yea... and no kitchen. Oh and a 2 month old baby. Honestly maybe it's the sweat and tears and decisions that made this feel like home to me. I literally labored over every knob in this aprtment. I watched the paint dry. I think the fact that i was so involved helped me make the place so comfortable for me and my family. There is no place I'd rather be than sitting on my couch with my husband and daughter reading the paper and blogging on a Sunday afternoon.

Thanks Nicole, your house is looking fab and I'm so happy I could share itxxx

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

My mum goes into hospital today as tomorrow she needs to have open heart surgery.

It's important to share this with you as it is how she came about having this operation that is really important. My mum has been suffering from migraines for years. Our doctor went to a conference regarding a link between migraines and a hole in the heart. Studies show many people who suffer from migraines have a hole in the heart and once it's patched up, the migraines stop. So she recommended mum to go and have her heart checked. Sure enough there was that hole in mum's heart! So off she went last week to have a relatively simple procedure to get it patched up but once they went in there it was worse than first imagined. As the doctor described it, her heart looked like "swiss cheese"! Hence why tomorrow she has to have the open heart surgery.

Now hopefully this will stop her migraines but more importantly for everyone to know is a hole in the heart is bascially a stroke in the waiting. If you have a hole in the heart your risk of having a stroke is extremely high. If you or anyone you know gets migraines, seriously it's worth going to get it checked by a specialist because you just never know.

The lovely Ms Brooklyn Limestoner has opened up her home to show us and answer some delving questions into what it has taken her to get this beautiful home.

What is your occupation?
My 9-5 isn't very exciting, corporate job that pays the bills. I try to keep the other side of my brain happy with more creative pursuits like running a graphic design business (www.sonicstefdesign.com) and brooklynlimestone.com.

How would you summarise your style?
I love mixing old with new. Sometimes people get into a rut thinking that pieces have to be from the same period or style to match but putting the right kind of pieces that are at odds with each other really gives the space personality. I also love it when there is at least one item in the room that is unique and/or personal. Not only is it a good conversation piece but it also gives a visitor a little peek into the homeowners life.

I really love the kitchen, so beautiful. The cabinetry, lights, bench top and the blue stools all work so well together.

Where do you find your inspiration?
I don't really have a good answer for this - things just pop into my mind. I'm sure it has alot to do with being a devoted blog reader and soaking in a lot of what is shared on them. I love to travel so seeing the architecture and decor in other countries has a big influence on me as well.

So much to love about this bathroom, actually everything it's adorable

What's life like living in Brooklyn?
Obviously I think it's great. Aside from having Manhattan and all that it has to offer a stone's throw away, Brooklyn has a very distinct scene of it's own so I'm never bored. We have beautiful green spaces, architecture and tons of restaurants and stores. The neighbourhood I live in is more on the residential side so I get a more relaxed community to come home to without having to give up the rest. Of course there are downsides too but they are more than outweighed by the good.

Best and worst thing about renovating/decorating your own place?
The best about renovating is being able to have it the way I want it. I didn't have to deal with anyone else's idea of a good idea or style because I made all of the choices myself based on what I liked and how we lived. The worst is definitely paying for it along with having to deal with the aggravation of dealing with contractors, permits, etc.

This space works really well. Great idea for the desk top, it's a door that was stripped back now it's just waiting for a glass top. And the birdcage looks perfect in the corner.

What are your favourite places to shop for the home?
Even though I often don't have great luck with them, I just love second hand furniture. Notice I don't say antiques because I don't really care about the pedigree of an item - I just like older things. Much like my appreciation of older homes, I like the idea of pieces with history. On the flip side, I'm also a Target fan for accessories and little things. There is always something I want to bring home with me.

What is the most treasured piece of furniture you ever bought, were given or found and why?
Hmmm...I don't really tresure my furniture really. I like most everything I have but I don't have any emotional connection to it really. I guess the item I received as gifts like my ghost chair and my vintage dress form are the things that pop to mind.

I believe her name is Ethel, she's lovely!

What's your favourite room in your house and why?
Tough question. Maybe my bathroom? This is the first time I've lived in a house with more than one bathroom so it's still pretty novel. And having my own medicine cabinet is a dream!

Yet another gorgeous bathroom

What makes a house a home?

For me it's two things: a) those little things that tell a story about your life like photographs and books and diy items and b) a cohesive look that is soothing and makes you want to spend more time there.

Monday, August 23, 2010

I have long admired the work of Australian freelance illustrator Kelly Smith at Birdy & Me. Kelly has exhibited nationwide and her work has appeared in many publications worldwide. You may have also seen her work for a number of fashion labels too. You can see more of her work here.

What a better way to start of the week with some of Kelly's work. Note these are only some of her works, I could seriously post so much more but there are so many amazing ones to choose from. These are my favourites.....